Structural metal member



Jan. 14, 1930. c; DORNIER 1,743,327

STRUCTURAL METAL MEMBER Filed Sept. 29, 1926 I mwuuu a metal structuresand o Patented a... 114.1930

caaumus nomwmaor nmnmcnsnunn-on-rnnmonnnsnn, G RMANY, assrenon PRICE OFONE-HALF TO DOBNIER-METALLBAUTEN GESELLSCHAET MIT BESCHBKKKTER HAFTUNG,OF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN-ON-TEE-BQDENSEE, GERMANY smnucrum 'mn'rar. MEMBER-App1ication filed September 29', 1926, SerlaiNo. 188,436, and inGermany October 10, 1925.

My invention refers to a novel kind of structural metal member which isparticularly adapted for use as a spar or beam 1n the construction ofaero lanes and other hght fi ers particular advantages over similarmembers hitherto used, as .far as mechanical strength and ease ofconstruction are concerned.

The sheet metal members hitherto used in the construction of light metalspars or beams mostly involve the disadvantage of not being readilyaccessible from within, the provision ofapertures with ai view to thesaving of weight being rendered difficult from a manufacturers point ofview.

The structural member according to the present invention avoids thesedrawbacks, being composed of several parts having the form of a sheetmetal bar of substantially angular cross-section;'the outer ends of thewebs being bent so as to extend substantially at a right angle to thewebs.

In the drawings aflixed to this specification and forming .part thereofa structural member embodying my invention is illustrateddiagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a cross-section of such member, while Figs. 2and 3 are a cross-section and a side elevation, respectively, of a sparorbeam constructed from two members of the kind shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and '5 are cross-sections of two further modifications of suchspar or beam.

Referring first to- Fig. 1, the structural member has the form of asheet metal strip.

a bent longitudinally at right angles, the marginal portions 'of thewebs so formed being bent substantially at right angles 'so as to,

form flanges d and e. In the vertical web of the angular member areformed circular apertures c the edges of which are beaded in order toobtain an increase of strength.

- As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, two such memb rs are combined with eachother and with a slgeet metal strip or plate f to form a'hollow beam,the parts being assembled by means of rivets. The interlocked flanges eserve for strengthening the corners of the beam.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, such beam can further be reinforced byforming one or both horizontal webs with semi-circular depressions orchannels g, whereby reinforcing ribs are formed in the upper part of thebeam.

The spar or beam thus obtained has an extraordinarily great mechanicalstrength in combination with particularly light weight.

The apertures 0 allow the easy introduction of riveting tools and theremoval of water and oil which may have entered the beam, this beingparticularly advantageous in connectionwith flying boats and the like,'the beams of which are constantly exposed to the sea water which isliable to cause a corrosion of the inner wall of the beam, unlessremoved in time.

Iwi'sh it to be understood that I do not deangles thereto, such strips.being arranged with their vertical webs parallel to each other and theirhorizontal webs overlapping each other and being secured together andbeaded apertures formed in the vertical webs. 2. A structural metalmember comprising two angular metal strips of substantially L- shapedcross-section, each comprising vertical and horizontal webs, flangesformed longitudinally of said strips and extending at right anglesthereto, such strips being arranged'with their vertical webs parallel toeach other and their horizontal webs overlapping each other andbeingsecured together, beaded apertures formed in-the vertical webs anda channel-shaped depression being formed in one of the two overlappinghorizontal webs. g r r 3. A structural metal member comprising twoangular metal strips of substantially L- shaped cross-section, eachcomprising vertical and horizontal web's, flanges formed longitudinallyof said strips and extending at right angles thereto, such strips beingarranged with their vertical webs parallel to each other and theirhorizontal webs overlapping each other and being secured together,beaded apertures being formed in the vertical-webs and channel-shapeddepressions formed in the two overlapping horizontal webs, saiddepressions extending on opposite sides so as to form a'tubularreinforcing member.

4. A structural metal member comprising two angular metal strips ofsubstantially L- shaped cross-section, each comprising vertical andhorizontal webs, flanges formed longitudinally of said strips andextending at right angles .thereto, such strips being arranged withtheir vertical webs parallel to each other, and their horizontal websoverlapping each other and being secured together, beaded aperturesformed in the vertical webs, and a sheet metal member'extending incontact with and fixed to the flanges of both said strips. j

In testimony. whereof, I aflix my signature;

CLAUDIUS DORNIER.

